Militancy, Power, and Identity: The Silent Sentinels as Women Fighting for Political Voice

@article{Southard2008MilitancyPA,
  title={Militancy, Power, and Identity: The Silent Sentinels as Women Fighting for Political Voice},
  author={Belinda A. Stillion Southard},
  journal={Rhetoric \& Public Affairs},
  year={2008},
  volume={10},
  pages={399 - 417}
}
  • B. S. Southard
  • Published 14 February 2008
  • Political Science, History
  • Rhetoric & Public Affairs
In 1917, National Woman's Party members waged a silent protest outside the White House for woman suffrage. This essay argues that these protesters, the "Silent Sentinels," drew strength from restricting ideological forces to constitute a militant identity. First, the Sentinels enacted early twentieth-century gender ideology and provided political voice to women. Second, the Sentinels appropriated the authority of the rhetorical presidency and constituted themselves and American women as part of… 
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